Gov. Jerry Brown holds up a chart showing the statewide average precipition by water year as he declares a drought state of emergency in California while speaking in San Francisco on Friday. (Photo by Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

It didn’t come as much of a surprise. In calendar year 2013, many parts of the state, including the Los Angeles area, received their lowest annual rainfall totals in a century and a half of record keeping.

The hills north of Glendora still are burning. There’s not a cloud in the sky — unless its smoke — and it’s in the 80s day after dry day.

In fact, Cal Fire has responded to 150 fires so far in January, compared with the average 25 for the time period.

Reservoir levels are dropping. A weekend turnaround trip to San Francisco by an editorial board member revealed hundreds of dying oaks near the roadsides — oaks that are dozens of years old. The malady sudden oak death is the likely cause, but the drought no doubt weakened their resistance.

The hillsides from Castaic to the Cajon pass look drier than they do in a typical October.

Should Southern California cities make water conservation mandatory and enforce restrictions? That’s our Question of the Week.

The city of Sacramento has imposed a Stage 2 mandatory water shortage plan, asking residents to cut back their water usage by 20 percent. Water waste inspectors there are out telling people about the restrictions, which require them to water their landscaping just once a week, either Saturday or Sunday, before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to reduce evaporation.

Violators get a warning the first time, then increasing fines of $50, $200 and $1,000.

Should cities in our area follow suit?

Or should they call for voluntary conservation now, perhaps with mandatory programs to follow if usage isn’t cut enough? Or do you prefer that authorities leave it to individuals to decide their own water use?

What are you doing to save water? Have you instituted your own practice around the house that has cut your usage dramatically? Any tips you’d like to pass along to your Southern California neighbors?

Send your thoughts to opinion@langnews.com. Please include your full name and city or community of residence. Also, provide a daytime phone number so we can verify the comment. Or, if you prefer, share your views in the comments section that accompanies this article online.